Rowing device and oar assembly



May 29, 1951 J. KOS-TEN 2,554,708

ROWING DEVICE AND OAR ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 25. 1948 Patented May 29, 1951 UNI TED STATE S PAT OFF I (IE 2,554,708 I ROWING amen AND OAR ASSENLBLY Johannes Kristen, Grant Rapids; Mich. Application August 25, 194:8, Serial No. 46,120

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in row .ing device and oar assembly.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an oar assembly which onables the effective operation of cars with one hand.

Second, to provide an oar assembly which serves as means tending to steady a boat against shifting or turning movement when the boat is not being rowed. V V

Third, to provide a handle attachment for cars of types widely used which can be readily applied to or removed from the cars.

Further objects in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of a boat provided with the oar assembly of my invention, parts being shown in section, the oars being in a position of rest. I 1

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, of the rowing handle of my 'invention applied to a pair of oars, the oars being positioned in longitudinal alignment;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View, partially in section, of a modified form or embodiment of my invention. 7

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a further modification or embodiment of my invention. 7 h

I illustrate in Figs 1 and 2 a preferred form or embodiment of my invention. In the accompanying drawing l represents a boat, 2, water, and 3-3, a pair of oars of largely used type, the cars being pivotally mounted at 4 on swivel oar locks 5. The details of these oar locks are not illustrated as the'y'are wellknown' in the art.

The oars illustrated are provided with the grips 6 of circular section having inwardly tapered portions 1. The coil spring liaiidleft is provided with oar handle clutch portions- 9 at its ends. These clutch portions are adapted to he -sleeved upon and clutchingly engage the grips 6 of the oars, the coils of the grip portions being somewhat expanded when they embrace the oar grips. To facilitate the expansion of the coils for their engagement with and disengagement from the cars, I preferably provide theend coils of the spring with coiled extensions 10 which serve as finger pieces. To securely retain the handle on the grip portions of the oars I preferably provide springable hooklike clasps l9 which are provided with eyes 20 engaging the loops Iii so that the clasps may be sprung over the oar grips and prevent the expansion of the oar gripping coils.

The spring handle is wound so that in its normal position or straight position, as shown in Fig. 2, the coils lie in contacting side by side 2 relation. the ears are shifted or moved from longitudinal of axial alignment, as shown in Fig. 2', the coils of the intermediate oar gr'i'p portion T'I' ofthe handle "are placed under ten- 'sion owing to their being flexed o'r bent.

The giip' .portioni's' preferably provided with a tubular coverihg il'i." of rubber or other suitable material. eliminates any possibility of 'the user being" pinched by the cells and it alsopi evi'des an insiilafting covering for the metal which might become disagreeably hot when exposed to the hot sun for a considerable period.

With this equipment a boat can be conveniently rowed with dne'liand' permitting rowing by a handicapped person, also permitting rowing with one hand while manipulating fishing tackle with the other. Further, when the blades of the oars are dropped into the watenas shown in Fig. 1 they tend to stabilize the boat against turning or shifting whichis also of very substantial advantage to a fisherman, hunter, or the like. I p

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the handle is made up of three sections, the intermediate grip section l3 and-the clutch sections I l-14. The grip and clutch sections have, in eifect,

threaded engagement, that is, the coils of the clutch section are turned into coils of the grip section. The contemplated advantage of this modification is mainly, however, that the parts may be coiled 'Withso'mewhat less difficulty than that of the preferred-structure.

In the modificationshown in Fig. 4, the grip section ["5 terminates" in centrally disposed eyes it is believed-that thisdisclosure willenable those skilled'i n the art'to embody oradapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a pair of oars provided with swivel car looks to which the oars are pivotally connected, the oars having grips of circular section provided with inwardly tapered portions, a coiled spring handle member having integral oar grip clutching coils at its ends in expanded clutching gripping engagement with the oar grips, the end coils of said clutch portions having coiled finger piece extensions facilitating the expansion of end coils for engagement with and disengagement from the oar grips, the coils of said handle member being normally in side by side tensioned engagement, and springable hooks engaged with said extension and adapted for engagement with oar grips to retain the handle coils in clutching engagement.

2. In combination with a pair of oars provided with swivel oar locks to which the oars are pivotally connected, the oars having grips of circular section provided with inwardly tapered portions, a coiled spring handle member constituting a hand grip and having integral oar grip clutching coils at its ends in expanded clutching gripping engagement with the inwardly tapered portions of the oar grips, the coils of said handle member being normally in side by side tensioned engagement, and permitting bending, lengthening and shortening of the hand grip between said oar grips during the operation of the oars.

3. In combination with a pair of oars provided with swivel oar locks to which the oars are pivotally connected, the oars having grips of circular section provided with inwardly tapered por-- tions, a coiled spring handle member constituting a hand grip and having integral oar grip clutching coils at its ends in expanded clutching gripping engagement with the inwardly tapered portions of the oar grips, the coils of said handle member being normally in side by side tensioned engagement, and a resilient tubular covering for an intermediate portion of said handle member constituting a hand piece therefor, and permitting bending, lengthening and shortening of the hand grip between said oar grips during the operation of the oars.

4. In combination with a pair of oars provided with swivel oar locks to which the oars are pivotally connected, and a coiled spring handle member constituting a hand grip and having oar engaging clutch coils at its ends in expanded clutching gripping engagement with adjacent ends of the oars, and a flexible covering for an intermediate portion of said handle member constituting a hand piece therefor, the coils of said hand grip permitting bending, lengthening and shortening of the hand grip between the adjacent ends of the oars upon operating the oars.

5. In combination with a pair of oars provided with swivel oar locks to which the oars are pivotally connected, and a coiled spring handle member constituting a hand grip and having oar engaging clutch coils at its ends in expanded clutching gripping engagement with adjacent ends of the oars, the coils of said hand grip permitting bending, lengthening and shortening of the hand grip between the adjacent ends of the oars upon operating the oars.

6. In a rowing device the combination of a pair of oars provided with swivel oar locks to which the oars are pivotally connected, and a flexible resilient coil spring handle member having inte- 4 gral oar engaging clutch coils at its ends, the portion of the handle member intermediate the adjacent ends of the oars constituting a hand grip, the end coils terminating in loops, and springable oar engaging clasp engaged with said loops and adapted to be engaged with the oars.

'7. In a rowing device the combination of a pair of oars provided with swivel oar locks to which the oars are pivotally connected, and a flexible resilient coil spring handle member having integral oar engaging clutch coils at its ends, the portion of the handle member intermediate the adjacent ends of the oars constituting a hand grip, and springable oar engaging hooks connected to the end coils and acting to prevent opening thereof.

8. In a rowing device the combination of a pair of oars, and a flexible resilient coil spring handle member constituting a hand grip and having its ends connected to the handle ends of the oars, the handle member being under spring stress when the oars are in a position or relationship other than that of longitudinal alignment, the coils of said hand grip permitting bending, lengthening and shortening of the hand grip between said ends of the oars during the operation of the oars.

9. A rowing handle for a pair of oars provided with row locks to which they are pivotally connected, said handle comprising a coil spring having integral terminal portions adapted for clutching engagement with the adjacent ends of a pair of oars, and springable oar engagement hook elements connected to the end coils to prevent expansion thereof when engaged with oars.

10. A rowing handle for a pair of oars comprising a coil spring provided with means at its ends adapted for clutching engagement with the adjacent ends of a pair of oars, said coil spring constituting a hand grip, the coils of said spring permitting lengthening and shortening of the hand grip between the ends of the oars during the operation of the cars.

11. A rowing handle for a pair of oars comprising a coil spring provided with means at its ends adapted for engagement with the adjacent ends of a pair of oars, said coil spring constituting a hand grip, the coils of said spring permitting lengthening and shortening of the hand grip between the ends of the oars during the operation of the oars.

JOHANNES KOSTEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 637,668 Rison Nov. 21, 1899 981,361 Behr Jan. 10, 1911 1,331,875 Roberts Feb. 24, 1920 2,444,683 Snip July 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 669,636 Germany Dec. 31, 1938 

